BLUES FOR CENTRAL AVENUE

CELEBRATING LIFE ON LA'S STORIED CENTRAL AVENUE AFTER WW II

LOS ANGELES  --  BLUES FOR CENTRAL AVENUE, a play (with music) about life on LA's Central Avenue during its heyday right after World War II, will have its world premiere at Write Act Repertory Theatre Thursday Feb. 12 – Saturday March 7, 2009.  Produced by John W. Lant III for Hollywood Civic Light Opera, the show's book is by Willard Manus, with music by Lou Briggs. Ken Cosby directs.

The production has been scheduled to honor the celebration of Black History Month.

L.A.'s Central Avenue flourished from 1920-1955. By day it served as the economic, religious and social center of black, segregated L.A.  By night, it was a magnet for those looking to enjoy some of the finest, most exciting music in the country.  Central Avenue was an entertainment mecca on a par with Bourbon Street and Beale Street, a place where headliners like Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and Slim Gaillard performed in the dozens of clubs lining "The Great Black Way."

BLUES FOR CENTRAL AVENUE is set in front of the elegant Dunbar Hotel, where such famous intellectuals and movie stars as W.E.B. DuBois, Langston Hughes and Paul Robeson resided. It tells the story of a returned vet who launches L.A.'s first Black record company and ends up having to do battle with Hollywood over the electrifying young singer he has discovered, nurtured and loved.

Willard Manus has had numerous plays produced in L.A. including JUNK FOOD and THE LOVE BOUTIQUE. He is also a novelist (Mott the Hoople) and journalist. Lou Briggs is an LA-based actor/writer/composer whose original musical, Hollywood! Hollywood! was performed at Write Act Rep in 2005. His music-director credits include stints in New York, Chicago and Las Vegas.

Ken Cosby has directed Yasmine Rana's M and the sketch-comedy troupe LIVE! LIVE! NEWS! NEWS! He is a USC Screenwriting Professor, a Lucille Lortel Playwright Award winner, and was a Blacksmyths Playwrighting Fellow at the Mark Taper Forum.

February 12th  – March 7th, 2009.  8:00 PM – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

February 22nd & March 1st, 2009.  4:00PM – Sunday

Box Office opens at 7:30 PM & 3:30 PM, respectively

TICKETS:

General:  $25 Door / $20 with Reservations  / Discounts  $15 (Seniors / Students / Groups/ Unions)

Refreshments included and may be taken into the air-conditioned theatre.

RESERVATIONS:

Call:  (323) 469 – 3113 / Reservations Suggested / General Admission Seating